TV's cemetery is filled with critical darlings whose ratings failed to live up to their reviews. Now reports from the set indicate NBC's NewsRadio may soon shuffle off to that boneyard. The third-year comedy, moved to Wednesday nights in September, is getting pummeled by ABC's The Drew Carey Show -- NewsRadio's Feb. 19 episode ranked a dismal 84th for the week. According to series creator and executive producer Paul Simms, NBC Entertainment president Warren Littlefield is now suggesting the show might be axed. ''It's frustrating to have been assured all along that we would take a beating on Wednesdays but not to worry,'' says Simms. ''Then about two weeks ago, they told us to start worrying.''
Simms says the comedy hasn't caught on because of NBC's minimal support, including little on-air promotion and five time-slot shifts. Littlefield said in a statement: ''We believe that NewsRadio is the kind of smart, funny, signature-comedy series that we want on our schedule. It is our hope that we can figure out a place where the series can grow and succeed next fall.''
But if NBC can't find a place for the show, it's likely another network will welcome the crew of NewsRadio's WNYX. An on-set source says cast members last week jokingly made mock promos for each of the other networks, advising audiences to ''catch NewsRadio on its new home.'' As they say, News travels fast.
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